Assessing humanitarian needs--Afghanistan

During 5 weeks of 1993, 10,000 people were wounded and over 800 killed in Kabul, capital city of Afghanistan. 50,000 refugees have fled Kabul for the countryside, or the safety of Pakistan. In the Bosnian conflict 55,000 people have been injured over the past 2 years. At the present rate, Kabul will reach this total within 6 months. My brief in Kabul was to visit as many hospitals and polyclinics as possible, talk to the staff, and find out whether there is a need for MERLIN (Medical Emergency Relief International) to intervene in this area. This intervention would be in the form of a short mission of 3-4 months duration, deploying a trauma team, immunisation programme or supplies facility. It was essential to assess the trauma facilities and document what supplies and staff were needed.